Port Adelaide Track watch: Draftee Christian Moraes a standout as Todd Marshall hits the ground runnings
Zak Butters is back early and Todd Marshall is running well – but the story of Port Adelaide training so far might be a kid that’s only been there a few days. Get all the intel from Alberton.
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It is very early, but Port Adelaide might have found a draft gem.
The Power’s war room was ecstatic when Christian Moraes was still on the board in the second round of last week’s draft and he was quickly snapped up by the club at pick 38.
Discussed as a potential top-10 — or even top-five — pick at the start of the year, there was a fair bit of surprise that the Eastern Ranges’ running machine slid to where he did.
He didn’t have a poor year by any sorts, but other players simply went past him in the eyes of some.
While it is only the first week of the Power’s pre-season campaign, the midfielder-forward is showing signs that other clubs could end up coming to rue overlooking him in the future.
On top of his tank, Moraes had plenty of impressive moments both by hand and by foot at Alberton on Friday as he looked very much at home among the Power group.
Particularly impressive was some of his work in traffic in the Power’s small sided match-play drills.
The 2024 draft class could be one the Power looks back fondly on.
Small forward Joe Berry has also been impressing and is predicted to become a fan favourite, while fellow slider Jack Whitlock needs to bulk up but grew into game play as it went on.
North Melbourne VFL captain Jack Watkins might need to improve his kicking at times but took an impressive contested mark on Friday as he trains with the Power in hope of securing the club’s final list spot.
The Power is looking at a couple of other players to also trial over summer and they could be at Alberton as early as next week when the full squad returns.
While they were not expected back until next week, there were a number of senior players out on the track.
Spearhead Mitch Georgiades returned for his first training session of pre-season on Friday, with swingman Esava Ratugolea also featuring.
Ryan Burton hasn’t missed a session yet and was running with fellow defender Miles Bergman.
Darcy Byrne-Jones, Jordon Sweet, Kane Farrell and Dylan Williams were also at training, along with captain Connor Rozee and vice-captain Zak Butters.
Butters, in particular, trained as he always does, like a madman when it comes to the contest.
Williams was a casualty of some hard running at the end of the session as the fitness staff made the Power players suffer.
While there were some fears for his career after more concussions, key forward Todd Marshall moved well on Friday.
Marshall underwent brain scans following his fifth concussion in three years and, in a big positive for the 26-year-old, he has been able to do plenty of running without any symptoms over the off-season and the first official week back at the club.
Marshall was also involved in kicking drills, in between the mountain of running work.
New recruit Jack Lukosius was restricted to running on Friday, but was able to get up to high speed, indicating training with the main group isn’t too far away.
Meanwhile, recently delisted key defender Kyle Marshall will be at Alberton in 2025, albeit as a SANFL player for Port.
PORT DRAFTEE’S AIM TO INSPIRE NEXT GEN TALENTS
Port Adelaide rookie Benny Barrett is hoping he can act as an inspiration to potential footy players from a similar cultural background to him after he was added to the Power’s list.
The electric South Adelaide forward comes to the Power from its Next Generation Academy, meaning Port could add him straight to its list as a Category B rookie.
Barrett qualified for Port’s NGA through his parents coming from Papua New Guinea.
Gold Coast’s Hewego Oea became the first player from PNG to play an AFL game in 2022.
Barrett said he was hoping to add to this.
“I’m proud of my heritage, it means a lot to me,” he said.
“It is a growing sport over there and hopefully I can be a bit of a face for it and if there are kids like me around Australia or in Papua New Guinea that want to give footy a shot and make it to the next level I am hoping I can be a role model I guess.”
he's got pace, poise and a whole lot of pizzazz âš¡
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) November 22, 2024
enjoy the best of benny barrett 🎥 pic.twitter.com/hHi1xiGybg
While he was a member of Port’s NGA, Barrett was able to train with Port over the past 12 months.
He said that significantly helped his rise to the Power’s list.
“It has helped me heaps, just being able to come out here and experience what it is like to be in the AFL system I am really grateful,” he said.
“Just seeing the elite level was amazing to see first hand and experience and I think it has helped me to get where I am now.”
Barrett impressed for the Panthers at under 18 and reserve level in 2024, with there belief he could become a small forward in the AFL.
He said he thought he had some good strengths.
“Definitely my speed and my cleanness on ground level, I’m a big impact player per possession and I love to tackle,” he said.
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